We are not quick on the draw when it comes to committing our support is concerned, in these parts. On two occasions in the past few weeks alone, event organizers have considered cancellation of functions due to slow advance ticket sales. Turns out, most people were waiting until the last minute before committing. In both cases the events were successful, despite the worry the suspense may have caused those involved.

There are other examples..

The Medical Clinic fund should be over the top by now. It is not.

The Arena Lottery tickets should have sold out long ago. At last report they had not. The draw is tomorrow.

Once again there comes a time for soul-searching. Kipling has a rare opportunity to not only be home to the filming of a Hollywood-type movie, but to share in its ownership. No doubt many of us will find a couple of hundred or perhaps a thousand dollars to be a part of it all. But will the big money come forward? Will the benefits extend beyond the immediate ones of some economic activity, however brief, and our fifteen minutes of fame? The next three or four weeks will tell the tale.

At the same time, a department store chain has expressed interest in locating here if a building is built for it to lease. A recent meeting attracted a good number of potential investors . . . some big, some small. A steering committee was formed. Most left the meeting confident that it can be done.

What if a smaller group or a single investor came forward and proposed to foot the bill? That would be good, too, right? There are plenty of community ventures to go around.

The hitch is in figuring out where the money is. For fundraisers it’s a bit like a treasure hunt without a map. Most often potential investors sit back and wait for someone else to make the first move. It is to be hoped investors themselves will take the initiative this time around, given the time frames involved.

Michael Kearns